How to Open a Strange DICOM File on Your Computer

Have you been trying to open your DICOM file on your computer only to run into an error code? There are thousands of software packages on the market, and many of them use proprietary files. When your Windows or Mac PC tells you that it can't open a certain file, you may be at a loss for solutions. But don't worry, because we've got you covered with a solution to this frustrating problem!

Quite simply, what this means is that your computer is having difficulty matching the DICOM file type to a program that opens DICOM file extensions.

What is the DICOM File Extension?

As we mentioned, some programs have proprietary file extensions. You might have seen .doc, .exe, and .pdf at the end of a file name. Those are file extensions that indicate the file type and provide a clue as to which programs might be able to open a file.

Warning: Be sure that you trust the source that gave you the file, as you might be trying to open a file that contains malware. Always run your file through a malware checker before trying to open it.

Windows typically hides file extensions for known file types, which means that you shouldn't see the extension for most files. If you're unfamiliar with the file extension, right-click on it and click on "Properties". The "General" tab will reveal the filename and the extension suffix. You can now Google it to learn more about the file type.

Opening the DICOM File

Once you know the type of content the DICOM file contains (graphics, media, text), you can add the file extension to the default file associations in the computer's settings and try to open it again. If you don't have the matching software, you will have to download it.

If that still does not work, you may have to contact the developer for more guidance. For example, if you know that you have DICOM files, you will be able to Google to find out which software packages use the DICOM file extension.

If you have the software on your PC, but you still can't open the file, you may get in touch with the software developer of that file type. The most common DICOM-related software is DICOM Digital Imaging and Communations in Medicine Format Bitmap. If it's not included in the developer chart below, a quick web search of "DICOM Digital Imaging and Communations in Medicine Format Bitmap developer" can help you find the contact information of the developer that can help.

Software

Developer

DICOM Digital Imaging and Communations in Medicine Format Bitmap

Microsoft Developer

Open Your DICOM File With File Magic

Binary files often have to be opened in specific programs, but for everything else, you can use File Magic. Universal software viewers such as File Magic can open a variety of file types, depending on the format of the file. Download File Magic from the Microsoft Store now!